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Pasadena appoints final members to 710 freeway working group

The final members of the working group tasked with shaping the future of the roughly 50-acre former 710 north freeway extension site were appointed by the Pasadena City Council Monday, bringing the group to 16 members.

The group will soon start the process of creating a draft concept plan that identifies the future land uses, scale of development, and infrastructure needs for the area once home to largely minority single-family neighborhoods.

The initial timeline calls for the hiring of a consultant, creating a financial plan, and soliciting public outreach through advisory board and commissions by this spring. An updated schedule will be developed after a consultant is hired.

According to Caltrans, this is an “unassigned portion ” of the 710 Long Beach Freeway at Del Mar Ave. in Pasadena on Nov. 22, 2022. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Officials said the initial planning stage could take three years, with specific plans and infrastructure expected to begin in the spring of 2025 and lasting between 12 and 18 months. Though the plans, once finalized, are widely expected to shape Pasadena’s growth for decades to come, it could be more than 10 years before any significant development has progressed.

With more than 60 application for the group submitted, the council Monday decided to expand the body’s makeup from 13 members to 16.

APPOINTEES:

Two of the appointees were directly affected by the freeway extension.

Jose Luis Correa, account manager at Hey Media, said he was displaced by the project when he lived on Waverly Drive and Orange Place in Pasadena. Pasadena Unified School District Board President Michelle Richardson Bailey, said her family home on Claremont Street was taken through eminent domain due to the freeway extension.

The other five appointees will be at-large members:

Joel Bryant — Director of Construction, PGK Partners, Rose Bowl Operating Company (2011-2021);

Remy De La Peza — California Planning Roundtable member, ACLU Pasadena/Foothills chapter board member;

Mic Hansen — Planning Commission chair, Pasadena Heritage advisory council;

Adriana Lim — Real estate appraiser; member of transportation advisory commission, design commission, and redistricting task force; and

Jasmin Shupper — Greenline Housing Foundation, founder and president, Harambee Ministries board member.

One nominee from each council member and two nominees from Mayor Victor Gordo were approved last week, making up the first nine seats, including: Cynthia Kurtz, Wayne Brandt, Tina Williams, Nevil Green, Danny Parker, Bryan Takeda, Blair Miller, Ali Barar, Randy Shulman.

At the meeting, Mayor Gordo said the city will prepare a letter to the remaining applicants asking them to remain open to serving the working group in other capacities, such as on subcommittees or as advisors.

“This is a moment in time, it’s mammoth undertaking and it’s going to require us all to work together on a whole host of issues,” he said.

Related links

First members of Pasadena’s 710 freeway stub working group appointed
Caltrans houses added to national listing for Markham Place Historic District
Pasadena begins process to heal ‘scar’ known as the ‘710 stub’
The untold story: How a South Pasadena-based group successfully fought the 710 Freeway extension — twice
‘Historic’ vote returns ‘710 stub’ to Pasadena, ending long fight for control

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